8x DVD+RW

[sopranoswhack]

I was browsing ebay.com, like usual, for a well priced dvd burner. before, this, i only heard of 4x dvd burners, and then i came across this 8x one :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=44956&item=2766945985#ebayphotohosting
or
http://www.amastore.com/nuteddide8xd.html
however, i havnt really heard of this name brand, and i am afraid of buying it because of that. here are some quick specs:
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Model:
DDW-081

Color:
Beige

Interface:
IDE/ATAPI interface (compliant to ATA/ATAPI-5)

Access time:
16x (21.6 Mbytes/sec, DVD
48x (7,200 Kbytes/sec, CD)

Read:
DVD-ROM: 16x

CD-ROM: 48x

Write:
DVD+R: 8X
DVD+RW: 4X
CD-R: 40X
CD-RW: 24X

Buffer Size:
2MB

Disc Format:
DVD-ROM (DVD-5, DVD-9, DVD-10, DVD-18), DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-DA, CD-ROM/XA, CD-i, Karaoke CD, Video CD, Multi-session Photo CD, Enhanced CD, i-trax CD, CD extra, CD Plus, CD-Text, CD-R and CD-RW Discs Compliant

Dimensions:
144.2 mm x 41.3 mm x 190.0 mm(cm)

Features:
Support Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP Operating Systems
MPC level 3 compliant
MMC2 / Mt. Fuji Command compliant
Mt. Rainier supported
PC 2001 Logo
CSS (Content Scramble System) supported
RPC II (Regional Playback Control Phase II) supported
Motorized Tray Type Automatic Load
Electrical Button / Software / Emergency Ejection
MTBF 60,000 POH
Support Ultra DMA mode2, Multi-word DMA mode 2, and PIO mode 4
Flash ROM supports On Line Programming Capability
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If you could, plz tell me whether or not i should purchase this, i am looking at getting a good reliable dvd burner. thanks in advance

[RAAGAAman]

This is a QSI(Quanta storage) designed drive. They are a taiwan based Storage supplier that has mainly concentrated on Slim portable drives in the past. It is based on the Philips Nexperia Chipset. I have one. It does write at 8X to certain 4X DVD+R medias although the write quality is not the greatest. I would wait for 8X media. It is a OK drive but not as polished as say a Pioneer or NEC burner.

RG

[kirpen]

Its 139 here http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=174502[/url]
What problems have you had with this drive?

[sopranoswhack]

what brand/model # would you reccomend then?
thanks in advance

[RAAGAAman]

This drive with a few more improvements in DVD media compatibility would be OK. I have created a coaster or two burning at 8X. Also, I have seen a few write errors with CD-RW.
I think that a Dual drive is what offers the best value since you can get what media is on sale. For that I would reccomend a Pioneer 106, NEC 1300 or a Sony DRU510X. Of course the big problem with Dual drives is that they do not support Bit compatibility. I heard there is some FW for the NEC 1300 but I have not tried it. If you want the cutting edge I would go with an HP400i(+R/RW only), Pioneer 107 or Sony DRU530A. I don't know if any of these drives are available yet but I have had experience with their previous drive so I expect them to be of good quality.

RG